Minutes 2-24 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Board of Health
Subcommittee:
Date: February 24, 2022
Place: Via Zoom
Board Members Present: Dr. Justin Jordan,MD, William J. Alpine, Jr., Esq. and
Susan Higgins
Board Members Absent:
Others Present: William Burke, Director of Public Health, Teresa Kirsch, Public Health
Nurse
Recorder: Karen Alpine
Mr. Alpine called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Mr. Burke opened the meeting and announced the agenda items. Mr. Alpine introduced the
members present. Ms. Higgins motioned to approve all minutes of the meetings dated December
14, 21, 28, 2021 and January 5, 2022. Dr. Jordan seconded the motion. All were in favor by roll
call.
Mr. Burke described the history of the Youth Indoor Face Covering Order. It was instituted by
the Board on January 5, 2021 to be in line with rules by the Department of Secondary Education
(DESE) and Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). These two
organizations will have new rules ending face coverings as of February 28, 2022. Ms. Higgins
thinks it is appropriate to follow DESE and MIAA by ending the mandate. Dr. Jordan
concurred, saying consistency is important. Ms. Higgins motioned to approve ending the Youth
Indoor Face Covering Order. Dr. Jordan seconded. The motion carried.
Mr. Burke had updates for the Board. There is still a vacancy for the Inspector position. No one
experienced or seasoned applied.
Ms. Kirsch spoke about Covid cases decreasing, but with at home antigen tests and schools on
vacation, it's hard to be accurate. There was one reported case of a new variant, but Dr. Jordan
said that it was not greatly different a variant than the current one.
Mr. Burke said that a citizens group wants to speak to the Board about a rat problem in the city.
National Grid and the MBTA will need to submit plans to control pests for construction projects.
Citizens are already doing so. Tracking of rodent complaints is done by coordinating data from a
couple of systems.
The Board discussed whether to meet in person next time, but Dr. Jordan and Mr. Alpine will be
only able to attend remotely. It was decided to hold the meeting virtually.
Ms. Higgins motioned to adjourn. Mr. Alpine seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:55pm.
The next scheduled meeting is March 16, 2022.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Alpine